[richy27]

Got a pretty good porty and want to eventually move on to a tm but def wont get rid of the porty cause so many jobs i do it would be either un practical to use a tm or it would be a health and safety issue due to the hoses and security.

This is aquestion o all you tm big boys with there toys what probs have you faced when using your tm and how did you overcome them.

I know this is avery expansive question few tales.

Regards

Rich

[John Kelly]

You'll find that most of them when they get a truckmount the porty is resigned to the garage only coming out occasionally when absolutely nescessary.
If you want to see someone depressed you should have seen one of my customers when his Prochem Truckmount was out of commision a few weeks ago and he had to go back to using his Diamondback.
Don't get me wrong, portables are great its just when people move up to a truck they become lazy and reverting back is very hard.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

After 20 odd years of porty I went TM and it is different and takes a bit of getting used too.

Had my porty out yesterday due to accesss problems and will use it on Saturday in the City but otherwise it's TM all the way.

More power, more heat, more vacuum, more pressure it just means a better clean and quicker too.Having said that portys will give a very good job if used by a skilful operatror with plently of preparation but the tM is just better.It should be though it cost a lot more.

Must go now, have to put some water in my TM, one of the differences.

Cheers

Doug

[Joe H]

what John and Doug have said is dead right - and I have a top class portable as a backup - the Scorpion.

IMO you do need a portable as a backup machine.
There are times the TM will be down.
There are jobs that a TM wont get to.

and remember unless you have a porty with 2" hoses (aka Scorpion) you need to keep 2 sets of hoses.

Things different with a TM
going across pavements with hoses - sign and ramps needed.
2" hoses are heavier then 1.5" - more difficult to manage in the new 3 story houses.
when you get home and you just want to jump in the shower, you have to empty the tank of dirty water down a sewer drain.
in the dirty water tank there is usually a big filter that needs washing at least weekly and sometimes more often - dirty smelly job.

[clinton]

Joe or john kelly

What about the maintanence of the t mount

Am also thinking of upgrading and the bit you posted there joe puts me off with the draining of the water etc

[Bob Robertson]

You will probably get more dog poop on your vac hose with a TM and its a bugger to clean out of the grooves.

Bob

[mark shannon]

Clinton you only pull 6ft  hose out and empty water away, the filter needs cleaning often but then so does your Portys waste tank and vac screens.

Agree with all above and since Christmas only used the Recoil twice. TMs do take a while to adjust to and i was very apprehensive the first few weeks.

maintanence of the t mount ,seems in my limited knowledge, to consist of checking and changing oils and filters reguarly and having a 500hr proper service. You get a manual with daily, weekly and quarterly checklists.

Mark

[daysdeepclean]

Do you just dump the water at your home down the drain....?

It's simple, once I have built my client base up and I can afford it, I'm having a TM.... It's the future!

[Jim_77]

Most truckmounters will just let the waste out next to the van at the end of the job, to be honest.  grass, gutter, wherever.  Whats the point of dragging all that extra weight around wasting fuel and making your van handle worse, wearing out your tyres quicker etc etc.

some customers might get a bit funny about you doing that on their drive though!

[Joe H]

Re dirty water disposal.

Where do you put the porty dirty water.........  down the loo (at the client)

TM dirty water should go the same place (except not down the clients loo) ...... I understand you can get fined if caught dropping your dirty water (TM or porty) down the road drain.  Black drain (sewer).  I have one in my drive with a light weight lid so easy to come off.

Cinton, the Prowler turns most of its waste into steam so not much to collect so most Proler owners will let it discharge discreetly into a flower be I understand.  Remember Steve Gunn did post some photos some time ago - 12 months or maybe more.

[davep]

Just tuck the waste water pipe under the van or towards a drain, like Joe says most of it turns to steam.  Just brush the filter after each job, 5 second job 

Will show ya next week Clinton

[will_turton]

 joe stop making a meal of dumping your water, straight down the road every truckmounted person does it bar you stop bein a goodie 2 shoes

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys
There are things that have to be managed like water and fuel but the TM is so much quicker that you will have plenty of time.

I have just done a 3 bed house, empty in  1 hour 40mins  inclusive of set up and pack away and the quality was excellent.

When you can afford it, just go for it.

Cheers

Doug

[Dave_Lee]

Billy,
Not every Truckmounter. As you might have seen in a post of mine a couple of months ago, I finally got the official line on it from the local Trade Effluent Officer after I had someone complain about my dumping water down a sewer drain. Turned out as I already knew, I was legaly entitles to use it. I had to explain all this again to our local Enviroment Officer just last week, after he phoned me to tell me he had received a complaint (Anonymously) about me dumping waste water down a drain. He was okay about it after I told him I had already gone through all this with the Trade Effluent guy, but it just shows that there people out there, who could cause trouble for you if you dont follow the rules.
Dave.

[clinton]

Mark

Same knowledge as you then on truckmounts

Like you said it will take a while to get used to it.

Dave be good to see your prowler in action

[stu_thomson]

have been cleaning carpets now since 1991 always with a porty until 3 weeks ago when i bought a 2nd hand boxxer 421 and van (the one on ebay)

  problems ive been having are  battling with the stiff hoses (this is my biggest ball ache at mo) machine dying on me cos ive ran out of fuel or  water and a general not knowing anything about truckmounts till now

however after nearly 3 weeks of it now am getting the hang of it with lots of help from Craig at H/M (what a guy..thanks)

on the right jobs it is absolutely awsome, done a care home today black top in places and generally minging, but after a prespray of blitz and extracted with hydradry the carpet came up awsome in just over 2 hrs with set up and packing away and a job ticket of £160, this with my porty would have taken me a lot longer with im sure not such a good result.

havent used porty now since having it and am allready starting to dread the 1st time i have to get it out so i guess im a happy chappie untill it breaks down!

regards
stu

[Doug Holloway]

Stu,

I found that, so when I am in a small confined area I use a smaller bore vac hose and use my porty wand, I think the guys call it a whip line, so now it's like using a porty but with TM power.

The 2 inch pipe will leave drier but you have to weigh against convenience.

Cheers

Doug

[derek west]

never used smaller pipe so not a problem for me, suppose its what your used to.

[richie]

Alotof people that have never used a truckmount are scared of them when in fact they are very user friendly.  On the whole they are easy to maintain, simple to operate and will outlast the parts on a porty by far.  Anyone thinking of getting a truckmount.....i would advise that you go and meet another truckmount operator.  They will show you everything on the machine and tell you how it works and how to service it.  Over the years i have had carpet cleaners contact me asking me if i would explain their truckmount to them.  Either they would come to me or i would visit them.  Id explain everything that they ned to know.  Many of these people would have me service their machines whilst they watched time & time again until they felt confident that they could do it on their own.  Most of the things on a truckmount is pretty straight forward its just a case of DONT BE SCARED.


Waste water is not normally a issue unless you make it a issue.  BE DISCRETE
Richie.

[stu_thomson]

doug, mine has a 10ft 1.5" whip hose which does make it alittle easier, did try using my 33ft cfr hide a hose on a couple of jobs which was also easier although lost some suction, will keep playing with different ideas, should be getting larger van soon which will help as well, also i think this cold weather isnt helping matters, everythings stiffer and hoses on wet drives etc is mere, roll on warmer weather

stu